Bill 1136

A BILL

TO AMEND ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 1, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE, BY ADDING SECTION 1-1-720, RELATING TO STATE EMBLEMS, TO DESIGNATE BARBECUE AS THE OFFICIAL STATE PICNIC CUISINE.

Whereas, South Carolina is "The Birthplace of Barbecue". Barbecue's roots can be traced to the 1500's when Spaniard explorers first brought pigs to the New World. The local Native Americans taught the Spaniards how to cook the whole pig over low, indirect heat, which is the blueprint for creating modern-day American barbecue; and

Whereas, South Carolina is unique in that it is the only state where one can find all four barbecue finishing sauces: vinegar and pepper, mustard, light tomato, and heavy tomato; and

Whereas, South Carolina's love of barbecue can be explored through the South Carolina "BBQ Trail", a marketing and advertising campaign by state tourism officials to create more business for "mom-and-pop" barbecue restaurants in South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 9, Chapter 1, Title 1 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 1-1-720. Barbecue is designated as the official State Picnic Cuisine of South Carolina."